Applying for a nursery place

Free nursery places

Every child is entitled to a free, part-time nursery from the term following their third birthday. Funding cannot be split between two nurseries.

There are three terms in a nursery year:

Intake 1: August-December. Children who are three years old before 31 August.

Intake 2: January-March. Children who are three years old before 31 December.

Intake 3: March-June. Children who are three years old before the last day of February.

The point at which a child becomes three years old determines the amount of terms of pre-school education available. For example, if your child's birthday is 20 October, they will be entitled to their funded nursery place from the following January.

Your child can access their nursery place from their third birthday if the nursery place has been allocated and spaces are available. The Council has a charging policy for additional hours in local authority nurseries.

For example, if your child's birthday is 20 October, they will be entitled to their funded nursery place from the following January, however, you could purchase a nursery place from 20th October and pay a charge - with the charge ending the following January, when the child will be entitled to their funded nursery place. You should discuss this with the head or manager of the nursery.

Please note that nursery children are not entitled to free lunches or transport.